In an otherwise disappointing 119-104 loss to the New York Knicks, rookie Nico Mannion provided a bright spot for the Warriors.
And we're not just talking about his hair.
The Warriors second-round draft pick saw significant minutes for the first time in his NBA career after Draymond Green was mistakenly ejected in the first half. Mannion dished out several flashy passes -- including an impressive feed to James Wiseman -- and picked up his first career point.
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Mannion's first point came from the free-throw line with 1:35 remaining in the contest. He was attempting a fadeaway jumper in the key before being fouled by Alec Burks. Mannion responded by sinking his first free throw before missing the second.
The University of Arizona product showed some encouraging glimpses in his first substantial chunk of playing time. He finished the night with a rebound and four assists over eight minutes.
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Golden State Warriors
The Warriors however floundered in their opportunity to win a third straight game. After Green's questionable second technical foul, which resulted in his ejection from the game, Golden State struggled mightily on defense. They weren't much better on the opposing side of the floor, shooting just 38.8 percent from the floor and 24.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Steph Curry led all scorers with 30 points, Andrew Wiggins posted 17 and Wiseman added 15. The Warriors will have Friday to iron out the kinks before a quick trip to Utah to take on the Jazz on Saturday.
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